Word
gingerly
Phoneticsgin·ger·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdʒɪndʒɝɫi/
UK/dʒˈɪndʒəli/
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. in a very careful and slow way, because you do not want to hurt yourself or break something.
adv. with extreme caution to avoid pain, damage, or noise. Typically modifies verbs of movement or handling.
Examples
“She lifts the hot tray gingerly with both hands.”
“He steps gingerly across the icy sidewalk, testing each foot before putting his full weight down.”
“After the surgery, she moves gingerly around the kitchen, measuring each reach and turn as if relearning the familiar space.”
Examples
simple
“She lifts the hot tray gingerly with both hands.”
contextual
“He steps gingerly across the icy sidewalk, testing each foot before putting his full weight down.”
complex
“After the surgery, she moves gingerly around the kitchen, measuring each reach and turn as if relearning the familiar space.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “gingerly” in context.
Verb
01. gingerly hold
“He gingerly held his sore wrist while waiting for the doctor.”
adverb + verb
02. gingerly lift
“She gingerly lifted the injured bird and placed it in a box.”
adverb + verb
03. gingerly open
“She gingerly opened the old letter from her grandmother.”
adverb + verb
04. gingerly place
“He gingerly placed the hot dish on the table.”
adverb + verb
05. gingerly sit
“He gingerly sat down on the sore leg and winced.”
adverb + verb
06. handle gingerly
“He handled the old photographs gingerly to avoid tearing them.”
verb + adverb
07. move gingerly
“He moved gingerly after twisting his ankle in the match.”
verb + adverb
08. step gingerly
“She stepped gingerly across the icy pavement to avoid slipping.”
verb + adverb
09. handle the box gingerly
“Please handle the box gingerly; it contains fragile glasses.”
10. pick it up gingerly
“She picked the kitten up gingerly and wrapped it in a towel.”
11. sit down gingerly
“After the operation, he sat down gingerly in the armchair.”
12. step gingerly over broken glass
“They stepped gingerly over the broken glass on the floor.”
Usage
Typically placed after the verb or at the end of the clause.
Real-World Examples
“Her niece steps gingerly across the charred rubble of this house that used to be and points to the exact spot.” “Stunned residents of the Mexican city of Culiacan gingerly ventured back into the streets on Friday as police cleared away shell casings and scorched cars from an eruption of gangland violence on the home turf of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel.” Etymology
The second element is -ly; the first element may be Anglo-Norman gençur or Old French gençor, gensor, comparative forms (also attested as positives) of gent (“beautiful, noble, pleasant, courteous”). The Oxford English Dictionary notes, however, that there is a gap of a few centuries between the last appearance of gençor, etc., and the first appearance of gingerly. The adjective is derived from the adverb, possibly because -ly is also a suffix forming adjectives.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADVERB
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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